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 Now, many times when Beltran extends his elbow for a swing, it turns
into a big home run for the New York Yankees.
It did Thursday night when Beltran connected for a three-run home
run off left-hander Chris Sale with one out in the bottom of the
third inning and the Yankees held on for a 3-2 victory over the
Chicago White Sox.
Beltran came into the decisive at-bat with three at-bats off Sale.
He was hitless in his first two at-bats off him but singled in the
first.
Two innings later, Beltran saw a 2-2 fastball and used enough force
to send the pitch into the glove of a fan sitting in the first row
of the left field seats.
"The elbow's better," Beltran said. "Last year I couldn't extend my
front elbow and every time that I felt like I was going for the
ball, I was kind of like cutting my swing, wasn't really finishing
my swing through the middle of the diamond and that also helps.
Right now, I'm not thinking about that, taking my swings and things
are good."
It was Beltran's 18th home run, three more than last year when he
did not play after Sept. 19 and batted a career low .233 in 109
games due to the elbow pain, which required offseason surgery.
"I've talked about (it), Carlos has had some really big three-run
homers for us in the second half," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
"That's a huge hit for us."
It also was his third home run in six games and 10th in 47 games
since Aug. 4.
It marked 22nd home run allowed by Sale (12-11) and seventh during
his four-game losing streak.
"Talk about a professional hitter," Sale said. "A guy who's year in
and year out one of the best in the game. He just continues to be
great."
Beltran's hit achieved a number things for the Yankees (84-68). It
lowered their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to six,
inched them to within three games of idle Toronto with 10 games
remaining and helped them rebound from losing two of three in
Toronto.
"They got to play 10 more games, we got to play 10 more games,"
Beltran said. "Whoever plays the best baseball in those 10 games,
everything's going to dictate on that. Right now we're focusing on
those 10 games and trying to put a good run."
Beltran's home run came on a night when Yankees pitching bent at
times but ultimately did not break.
Right-hander Michael Pineda (12-8) won his second straight start,
allowing one run and eight hits in six innings. He threw 70 of 89
pitches for strikes, often with men on base.
"He threw a lot of strikes," Girardi said. "Probably the best thing
he did is he got out of some jams. He made big pitches when he had
to."
Pineda took a shutout into the sixth before allowing a home run to
rookie right fielder Trayce Thompson. He finished the inning without
putting another baserunner, capping a night when he retired first
baseman Jose Abreu twice with men on.
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Pineda was not the only Yankee pitcher to face trouble.
Left-hander Justin Wilson put two on in with two outs in the seventh
and Dellin Betances issued a bases-loaded walk to Thompson. After
getting the final out of the seventh, Betances got a double play on
designated hitter Adam LaRoche and Andrew Miller worked around a
one-out single to center fielder Adam Eaton in the ninth for his
35th save in 37 opportunities.
Sale allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings. He also
notched his 1,000th career strikeout immediately after Beltran
homered and had eight overall, giving him 265, four shy off Ed
Walsh's team record set in 1908.
"That's all it takes," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It's a
professional at-bat by Beltran. He's been a good hitter, a clutch
hitter, and they have a lineup that's full of those kind of guys.
They're a tough lineup to get through and it just takes one and one
will get you when there's a couple of guys on. Three-run homers are
killers and this one was."
NOTES: The Yankees honored the memory of Hall of Famer Yogi Berra in
a pregame ceremony and also painted his No. 8 on the field in front
of both dugouts. "It's been a tough couple of days for us," New York
manager Joe Girardi said of Berra, who passed away Tuesday night.
"Yogi meant so much to the organization, to the city, to all of us.
For me personally, I miss him. ... Chicago 1B Adam LaRoche returned
to the lineup after being out since Sept. 13 with patellar
tendinosis in his right knee. ... New York RHP Masahiro Tanaka
(hamstring) was examined by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad
Thursday. Girardi said Tanaka had a positive report and would likely
throw a bullpen session Friday. Before the game, Girardi said he
would be surprised if Tanaka was not pitching sometime early next
week. ... Chicago 3B Mike Olt (right shoulder discomfort) was not in
the starting lineup after getting injured Wednesday but manager
Robin Ventura said he was available to pinch hit.
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